Suspect in stabbings being held at county jail

Thursday

Jan 9, 2014 at 10:01 AM

MIDDLEBORO — John Barsell, the 52-year-old Middleboro man accused of attacking three people with a knife in the hallway of a North Main Street rooming house building just after 3 a.m. on Christmas morning, was apprehended the following weekend on Saturday, Dec. 28. Two people were seriously injured in the attack,

Matthew Ferreira

MIDDLEBORO — John Barsell, the 52-year-old Middleboro man accused of attacking three people with a knife in the hallway of a North Main Street rooming house building just after 3 a.m. on Christmas morning, was apprehended the following weekend on Saturday, Dec. 28. Two people were seriously injured in the attack,

According to Police Chief Bruce Gates, officers responding to the bloody scene that morning were told the altercation which took place in the hallway at 49 North Main Street began over beer.

"It was some type of gathering and the two male victims who were severely bleeding made their way on foot up to the station. You could follow the trail of blood all the way here," Chief Gates said of Matthew Carreiro, 35, and Davin Gordon, 31, who were transported by ambulance to the level one trauma center of Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. The third victim, who was a female, did not require hospitalization.

Mr. Barsell, who lives in apt. 2 of the former YMCA building, fled the scene before police arrived. A four-day investigation led by Middleboro Detective Kristopher Dees resulted in Mr. Barsell's arrest in Quincy. Quincy Police, State Police and the state's VFAS (Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section) team also collaborated on the arrest, Chief Gates said.

Mr. Barsell has since been brought to Plymouth County Jail, where he is being held on $50,000 bail on two charges of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was arraigned on Monday, Dec. 30.

Rhode Island Hospital later confirmed with The Gazette that Mr. Carreiro and Mr. Gordon were discharged one day prior to Mr. Barsell's arrest on Dec. 27.